I went to
the conference knowing that, because I was there of my own volition (unlike
Damien, who was there for work), I would be responsible for tending to Amalie
most of the week. That meant, I was aware, that I might not be able to go to
many panels or spend much time at the bookfair, but I was hoping, worst case scenario,
that Ama and I could spend some time kicking around Chicago, and if nothing
else, Damien was going to be able to watch Amalie during my off-site reading on
Friday night and my book signing on Saturday.
Well, I was
right about the panels. I tried to go to one with Amalie on my lap, but she
started getting restless before it even started, so we went back up to the
hotel room to play. Kicking around Chicago, it turned out, was unrealistic; it
was freezing cold most of the week, and I didn’t want to take Amalie outside
any more than was absolutely necessary. The bookfair, though, was an
unqualified success. Amalie loved the buzz of activity, the many things and
people there were to see, and she LOVED all the attention everyone paid her.
People love to see a cute, little baby in an unexpected place, and Amalie, at
six months, is already a sucker for anyone who tells her she’s pretty.
She even
liked being carried around the bookfair during naptime. The truth is, she
prefers to sleep in mama or daddy’s arms, so the bookfair was kind of a dream
come true for both of us. She could doze off while being carried around, and I
could peruse the tables and booths, and feel like I was making the most of my
AWP experience. We even scored a free picture book—on the last day, the day the
presses were all trying to unload whatever they hadn’t sold yet, a man at the
Biblioasis table stopped me and gave me a free book for Amalie, saying they
didn’t want to take it back with them, anyway, and they’d rather it go to
someone with a child. I thanked him and bought another Biblioasis picture book
as well. (Both books look excellent—FABULOUS illustrations. I can’t wait ‘til
Amalie’s old enough for me to read them to her.)
My reading
and book signing both went well (I signed up to do my book signing for the last
day, the day they were going to discount
copies of the book, and I think it made a difference. People are far more
willing to take a chance on an unknown author if the book only costs $5), and
like I said before, I even managed to attend two panels (Damien watched Amalie
for me). In addition, I got to spend time with my UAF friend Jenni Moody, who,
it turns out, is GREAT with babies. By far the best part of AWP, just like last
year, was getting to hang out with writer friends I don’t otherwise get to see
very often.
I was so afraid Amalie would just stare at me and think I was crazy, so I'm so so glad we wound up having a fun time playing together! :)
ReplyDeleteOh man, she loved you soooooooo much! I wish I would have gotten a picture of you and her together. Next time :)
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